Arts Notes: Dec. 8, 2013

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha Individual Development Solutions will be hosting several upcoming activities, most with holiday themes.

"Preparing a Professional Portfolio" will take place at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13 for $10.

"Creating Christmas Ornaments: Handmade Creations for the Tree" will take place at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 14; three ornaments for $5.

A holiday open house will take place at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at KIDS.

"Kid's Painting Workshop: Hand-Painted Christmas Gifts from the Heart" will be offered at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 20 for $15; paintings will be on canvas or wood. A youth gallery informational session will take place prior to the class, at 6 p.m.

"Emergency Gifts Anyone Will Love" will take place at 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Dec. 21. Fees are $5 and $10.

Registration is requested for all events. The art workshops are recommended for elementary and middle school students. To register, contact Zachery Miller at 304-205-3045.

KIDS, 216 Washington St. W., is a comprehensive education-based company focusing its efforts on developing the individual child to meet challenges with confidence and success. For more information, visit www.wv-kids.com.

Holidays at Tamarack

BECKLEY, W.Va. -- It's a blue Christmas at Tamarack, but only in color. Display manager Jenifer Fox and her assistant, artist Robert Moore, have decorated the arts and crafts center with displays of handmade work featuring blue hues. Trees and festive garland decorate the interior and displays lead guests through the various departments.

Tamarack hosts "A Christmas Carol" at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 and 14. Tickets cost $7.50 in advance and $10 at the door. Because seating is limited, guests are encouraged to buy tickets in advance.

The Wild Rumpus & The Boatmen will perform "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" at 7 p.m. Dec. 19. Admission is $10.

Tamarack has free live performances of holiday music every Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Gov. Hulett C. Smith Theater. Heart of God Mass Choir is the featured artist for Dec. 8. On Dec. 15, Beckley Dance will perform selections from "The Nutcracker." Greenbrier Valley Chorale will perform Dec. 22. Hans Creek String Band will perform Dec. 29.

Artisans will have live demonstrations throughout the month. On Dec. 8, Dewaine Gregory will make carved wooden figures, and Jamey Biggs will make pottery. Jeff Davis will demonstrate painted wood, Nate Parr will show chain-saw art, and Nikki Butler will demonstrate fashion apparel and accessories Dec. 13-15. Christine Keller will show jewelry, and Tatiana Rakmanina has hats Dec. 20-22. Merideth Young features upcycled jewelry and VE Lilly, antique coin rings, Dec. 27-29.

Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia, exit 45 off Interstate 77, Beckley. 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily. Contact www.tamarackwv.com or 888-262-7225.

Exhibit at Weston hospital

WESTON, W.Va. -- Patients and staff at William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital invite the pubic to attend an exhibit of their artwork. The "Expressions" show takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 13. Selected works will be sold.

The Rehabilitation Department works with patients to help them express their creativity in different formats. One format is art therapy, and another is a creative writing class. Patients contribute to the monthly newsletter.

For more information, contact John Barnes at 304-269-1210, ext. 277.

Last call for miniature art

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- The 13th annual National Miniature Exhibition at the Renaissance Art Gallery will close Dec. 8.

Miniature artworks by 55 artists are featured -- everything from delicate watercolors to stone sculpture. "There are still many fine works of art available," according to Fern Christian, director of the gallery.

WHEELING, W.Va. -- Artworks Around Town, in collaboration with Towngate Theatre, a division of Oglebay Institute, presents "The Gift of the Magi" at Centre Market, 2200 Market St., at 7 p.m. Dec. 10.

The performance is free and open to the public. The production will be in reader's theater style with caroling and reading of the story with narration. The actors will be dressed in Victorian costumes.

The full stage production of "The Gift of the Magi" will be performed at Towngate Theatre at 8 p.m. Dec. 13-15 and 20-21 and at 3 p.m. Dec. 15.

To have your announcement included in Arts Notes, email judy.hamilton@wvgazette.com or send it to Arts Notes, The Charleston Gazette, 1001 Virginia St. E., Charleston, WV 25301. Artwork can be submitted electronically or by mail. Deadline for inclusion in the Sunday Gazette-Mail is the Tuesday before Sunday publication.